Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools is looking to see if the sun can power its schools.

The Provincial Government recently announced it would be investing $15 million from the Climate Leadership Plan to install more solar panels on schools. The Solar for Schools program provides funding to install rooftop solar panels with rebates of up to $1.50 per watt on the solar energy generated to offset the school’s energy costs.

“I can’t think of a better class project than rooftop solar panels. Alberta is as sunny as Rio de Janeiro and the future of solar in this province has never been brighter. Schools have stepped up as enthusiastic partners in our plan to reduce emissions, recognizing that the future will be one where economy goes hand in hand with environment,” said Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and Minister responsible for Climate Change.

The Solar for Schools program also includes an educational component, so that students and teachers can learn more about climate change and renewable energy technology and will be available to public, Catholic, francophone and charter school authorities for schools that have not received Alberta Education’s Solar Technology Systems grants.

“Across Alberta, students regularly tell me that they want to be leaders in the fight against climate change. Learning about renewables is just one reason we’re so supportive of solar energy in schools. This is also about building more efficient schools, so more money goes to the classroom and less goes to utility bills,” said David Eggen, Minister of Education.

Having received notice about this program, WRPS is looking into the feasibility of it in local schools.

“We are involved in a consortium and have been saving money for some time but are going to look at what it costs to put solar panels in schools,” said WRPS Superintendent Terry Pearson. “If it works, and it’s financially feasible, I’m thinking we’ll go ahead.”

Twelve solar array panels were added to Wetaskiwin Composite High School during its modernization and WCHS has a monitor in the school cafeteria so students can see how much power was saved and how many trees were saved using solar power.

There are also solar array panels on Pigeon Lake Regional School already.

The Solar for Schools program will be run by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, adding to the wide range of existing solar incentives available and helping meet the growing demand from existing schools for solar funding. The solar industry has grown by nearly 500 per cent over the last three years, with installed solar capacity rising from six MW in 2015 to 35 MW in 2018.